Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-03
title heart gives great bound of joy.

Sn6 again runs, ana ILLS tluo u6I Spocu
is checked in a grocery store, where she
invests all but 5 cents Of the so In tea,
bread and sugar. On regaining the street
she halls car, and curling herself up in
the corner on seat, looks with wide, wax
ing, thoughtful eyes on the frozen win
dow opposite.
''This is as far as we 60" announces the
conductor, after long, tedious ride, and
the little figure again struggles in the
snow, hugging the small parcels close to
her breast.
Nothing but snow! Great white fields of
snow, though the city behind and the
heavens above are cleaning with thous-
ands of lights.
Stiller and colder She night grows, but
still that dark dot moves along through
the white, vast stiffness of the night.
The large, dark eyes at length spy an
apparently long-sought for light ahead.
She soon reaches the structure from which
it CLEANS, and opening the door without
a key, she enters and seeks her way up a
dark fight of stairs. The great bright
eyes of rats peeping out of their holes
do not brighten her. $50 away you,"
she says chidingly, as if surprised at their
boldness in confronting her. Rapping
lightly at door at the head of the stairs,
or more properly speaking, ladder, she
gains admittance.
give got something to eat, papa" she
says cheerfully, holding her hands to
small stove emitting comfortable warmth.
Something to eat" he repeats, eager
Iy, and grasps the cold hands in his own
and CHATS them gently.
81 have been watching for you, Pearl,
r IL. - Lol
your grave and the snow filled it. But
you have come back, my Pearl, and the
white, long hair of the old man mingles
with the black locks Of the child, and hs
kisses her often and tenderly, as if they
had been separated for term of years.
s.Here, Pearl! see here! have perfected
my discovery; the secret of perpetual
motion is ours!' and his long white fu-
gers pointde to sheet of brown wrap
ping paper on the table, covered with an
giles squares and all manner of shapes
and curves, which, in their intricacy,
formed no definite outline of any kind.
eyes, papa, we will talk it over after we
have had something so eat" and she I'M
clasps his arm from around her waist
and prepares the tea.
How did you earn the money!" he
asks, fondly.
81 did not earn it, papa. young lady
gave it to me-"
A shadow passed over her face as she
replied, and the bright keen eye of the
father observed it.
"Come here, my PEARL" he says grave
ly and draws the light on the table by
his side nearer to him.
She laid the bread she he'd been eat
ting on cracked plate, which she placed
on a napkin in the center of the table,
then turned her face to him.
He took it between his hands, and
looked anxiously into the face of his
child.
"They have been rough tn yoe, my
Pearl. Come rest your head ca my
breast and cry. see the tears in your
heart. My sweet flower, have leant on
you till the slender stem is ready to break.
But may yet be able to use nag limbs.
So cheer up, my precious Pearl. But let
us drink the tea. It smells good after we
have had nothing but warm water for
days and days."
Pearl. We must both take sene medi-
cine to make US stronger and cheer our
Spirits
She smiles through her tears and places
small paper box beside kim on the
table.
Brushing his hair from his face, she
draws the table closer TO the stove, moves
his chair nearer the table, and seating
herself, pours out the tea.
cit tastes good, papa" she says, touch
ing it daintily to her lips, end then takes
long draught as if to emphasize her
words.
"That is right, Pearl drink and enjoy
it."
He drained the tea IN his cup as a
draught, and when she recalled their cups
said: LET me put sonpe medicine in
this my Pearl, SO that VS. will grow strong
or. Perpetual motion and perpetual life
two grand discoveries they ought to
bring me fame and fortQne."
perhaps they will yet, papa. They
have a book in the city, Gs you tela me,
on which they have ell tase names OF the
great people WHO Iivs in Chicago. They
call it directory SO if you could usmem-
Der the names of some OF the doctors ana
mathematicians you used to know can
find out where they live in that book and
tell them all you have discovered"
''They would not believe it, my Pearl"
"Bnt, papa, I would explain it all to
them just as you did to zae. I would tell
them that the philosophy of perpetual
motion is plainly demonstrated"
''Dc not speak of it nosK, my child. We
will rest for time. I was SO fretfuI lest
evil should befail you when you left me
this morning that [ worked without eeas-
ing to quiet my anxiety. Later in the
evening we will discuss the latest phase
of our intricate labors, but now when you
have had enough to eat you can aaove
your chair close to me and sing me some
song like you used to do when you were
only child"
A'But am child no longer. papa. Tam
almost woman. I will be Ii years Old
neEt week"
She sits down beside him apd leans her
head on his shoulder. He strokes her soft
hair gently till it looks glossy and smooth.
Her heavy eyelids culver as she endeavors
to resist the desire to sleep.
''Sleep, sleep, my Pearl. You require
rest"
She puts her arm around his neck and
kisses him. He draws her close to him
with one arm, and with the other hand
raises his second cup of tea to his lips.
my poor, tired PEARL" he murmurs, and